John Tarnoff

In high school, much to my surprise, my 11th-grade career assessment test came back with “University Pastor” as the job I was best suited for. While I didn’t realize it at the time, looking back now, that assessment was pretty spot on. It tapped into my deep interest in people and how to support them in fulfilling their goals and aspirations. At the beginning of my career as a literary agent, then studio exec and film producer in Hollywood, my work was all about finding and nurturing talented creatives and helping them realize their visions and connect to a larger audience. I followed the same mindset when I moved into interactive and game development in the 90s. The tech startup that I founded and led through two rounds of funding during the dot-com bubble was an opportunity to manifest and monetize a colleague’s daring future vision. Then in the 2000s, at DreamWorks Animation, I pivoted into working on people initiatives with some incredibly talented artists and technologists. I created tech adoption, talent development, and university recruitment programs that helped the company grow by 50% over 4 years. But those 30 years were also a bumpy ride - not unexpectedly for such a volatile industry. In my 2012 TEDx talk, I joked about how I had gotten fired 39% of the time in my entertainment industry career. Still, those setbacks taught me resilience and resourcefulness and helped me grow as an individual and as a professional. In my second-act career, since leaving DreamWorks in 2010, I bring together that ability to turn career setbacks into successes with the counseling and mindfulness skills I learned while earning my MA in Spiritual Psychology. As a coach, I work with engaged and vibrant professionals across a range of industries and specializations. What they all share is a willingness to come present, let go of the past, redefine their value proposition, tell a new story, and engage with people to manifest their own second-act careers. Don’t let ageism get you down. The future is multi-generational and you are at the vanguard of that movement. Learn to blow past the obstacles (inner and outer) that stand between you and the impact you can still make. Traditional retirement is outdated. We still have time to create the career that most eloquently expresses and delivers what we’ve spent a lifetime learning how to deliver. If it’s your time to make that move and embark on your own successful second act, let’s connect! https://johntarnoff.com/strategy